the battle over his election-year, recession-addled spending plan begins in earnest. As is the case in most election years and budget crises, the state Department of Environmental Protection is likely to be a huge point of contention. Environmentalists say Corzine is cutting too much. Republicans say he's not cutting enough.

Meanwhile, along the shore of Raritan Bay, a story is playing out that highlights the fears environmentalists have regarding cuts to the DEP. State DEP officials there recently discovered massive amounts of lead, dumped years ago, and now showing up in fish caught in the area. It's just the type of pollution problem environmentalists fear will go undetected if the DEP is cut. On today's Ledger Live, we take you to the mud and muck of the bay for a closer look.

Ledger Live: DEP in a crunch

Ledger Live: Discussing the budget & its impact on the environLedger Live for Thursday June 11th, 2009- Ledger Live with Brian Donohue. Jon Corzine's state budget was introduced to the legislature today, and as in the case during most contended years, a big political question will be the state’s Department of Environmental Protection. In the last four years, the DEP is already down 13% fewer people. Today’s Ledger Live takes a look at issues along the Raritan Bay – just the type of problems that could go unaddressed if the DEP is gutted.